Fire crew cover is set to be cut in some towns across Northern Ireland due to budget pressures.
It is understood fire cover will move from full-time to part-time in a number of towns, including Carrickfergus , Enniskillen, Newtownards, Omagh, Portadown and Armagh city.
Belfast will also be affected. There are six stations with 11 appliances crewed on a full-time basis in Belfast, one of those appliances, crewed on a full-time basis, will instead be staffed on a nine-to-five basis by a "resilience" crew, which will be based at headquarters in Lisburn .
"A specialist rescue team will crew it during the night and at weekends, dependent on operational need," the fire service said.
In an official statement, the NI Fire and Rescue Service said "intends to bring a number of new trainees into the organisation over the coming months to allow for the continued delivery of a safe and effective service".
Union leader Jim Quinn told BBC NI members have been briefed by senior management and it is probable that changes could take effect within weeks.
"We are shocked that it's emerged this is a template for the future - we say it's a template for disaster," he said.
"As a result, the public and firefighters will be at risk as there will be a reduction in services across Northern Ireland."
Mr Quinn told BBC NI the union would fight the cuts.
"We have been asking to meet the permanent health secretary Richard Pengelly but as yet he hasn't been in touch.
"It's important he meets us and listens to those on the front line as he controls the purse strings."
Stormont's Department of Health said the fire service has been allocated a budget of £74.1m - an increase of £1.19m.
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